»:-^.: ^    ' 


BRINLEY.  /^       ''  ( 


"' '  /  — — —  /      /-J     / 


'^  '    '  '  jd^hi^JJiT]  . 


7     ' 


r 


^1 '       '^^^ 


'Ui/j 


Dr.  Maybezv's 
SERMON 

Occafioned  by  the  Death 
O  F      TH  E 

Prince    of     TVales. 


^ 


'  A 

SERMON 

Preached  at 

BOSTON  ill  NEW-ENGLAND, 

May  26.    1751. 

Occafioned  by 

The  much- lamented  Death  of 
His  Royal  Highnefs 

FREDERICK, 

PRINCE  of  Wales,  ^c.&c.  ^c. 


B   Y 

JONATHAN  MATHEW,T>,T>. 

Pallor  of  the  IVe^f-Omxch.  in  Boston. 


BOSTON  ;  NEW-ENGLAND  : 

•rintcd  and  Sold  by  Richard  Draper   in  Nezvhiry -Street, 
^nd  Daniel  Gookin,  in  Msrlborougb-^xxQzi.     1751. 


•K5r- 


(     5     ) 


A  SERMON  occaiioned  by  the 
Death  of  His  Royal  Highnefs 
FREDERICK,     Prince     of 


PSALM    CXVIII.    9  V. 

IT  is  bztter  to  trujl  in  the  LORD 
than  to  put  confdence   in  Fri7ices, 

F  we  do  not  think  too  highly  of  ourfelves, 
but  fobcrly,  as  we  ought  to  tiiink,  it  is 
very  well.  We  arc  certainly  weak,  indi- 
gent creatures.  Indeed  all  men  are,  in 
Ibme  degree,  confcious  of  their  own  na- 
tural and  unavoidable  imperfeflion.  Why  elfe  do 
they  not  tarry  at  home,  glorying  in  their  own 
felf-fufHciency  ;  and  take  up  fatisfied  with  what 
they  find  there,  inftead  of  wandring  abroad  to 
find  fomething  on  which  they  may  reft  fecure  ; 
fomething  in  which  they  may  he  quiet  from  fear 
of  evili    and  in  patience  poffefs  their  fouls  ?    Is 

any 


(  6  ) 

scttfmin  To  f?frrs^  with  himfe'If'^'Docs  any  iritm 
feel  fuch  omnipotence  within,  as  to  make  him 
fcorn  an  alliance  with  every  thing  extrinfic  to 
himfelf,  in  order  to  his  avoiding  evil  and  pro- 
curing good  ?  No  :  All,  all  with  one  conicnt, 
have  recourfc  to  fome  foreign  aid,  to  make  up 
that  deficiency  which  they  find  at  home.  They 
do  not,  indeed,  all  place  their  hope  in  the  liime 
objeds  i  their  expedations  are  varioudy  founded, 
fome  on  one  thing  and  fome  on  another.  Some 
trujl  in  chariots,  and  fome  in  horfes  ;  while  others 
make  geld  their  hope^  a7id  fay  unto  the  fine  gold. 
Thou  art  my  confidence.  And  as  all  feel  a  cer- 
tain internal  want  and  poverty,  which  makes  them 
go  abroad  to  beg  an  alms,  fo  all  aflually  find 
that  which  fcrves  to  relieve  them  in  fome  mea- 
fure  ;  to  buoy  up  their  fpirits,  and  to  preferve 
them  from  that  defpondency  into  which  they  muft 
unavoidably  be  plunged,  had  they  nothing  to 
trufl  to  but  themfelves. 

It  is  beyond  the  dcfign  of  this  difcourfe,  to 
jQiow  what  vain  and  ilender  props  thofe  are  in  ge- 
neral, on  which  the  mod  lean  for  fupport,  and 
reft  to  their  weary  and  heavy  laden  minds  -,  how 
weak  ;  how  infufficient  they  are  for  that  purpofe, 
while  they  are  polTeffed  ;  and  how  foon  they  muft 
wholly  fliil.  We  are  led  more  particularly  to 
confider,  how  little  reafon  there  is  tor  us  to  place 

cur 


(    7    ) 

our  trull:  even  in  the  Princes  and  Potentates  of 
the  earth,  who  have  doubtleis  the  nioft  natural 
claim  to  it  of  any  thing  in  this  world  :  And,  at 
the  fame  time,  alfo  to  confider  the  reafonablenefs 
of  placing  it  in  Almighty  God^  who  is  the  confix 
dence  of  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

It  is  natural  and,  indeed,  reafonable  for  people 
to  exercife  fome  fort  and  degree  of  dependence 
one  upon  another  ;  upon  perfons  in  the  fame 
rank  of  life  with  themfelves ;  and  to  repofe  a 
mutual  confidence  in  each  others  good  offices-. 
This  is  juft  •,  becaufe  a  Man  may  not  only  be  pro- 
fitable unto  himfelf^  as  every  one  that  is  wife  is  ; 
but  his  righteoufnefs  may  alfo  profit  the  fon  of 
vjan,  and  be  inftrumental  to  the  happinefs  of  o- 
thers,  as  well  as  to  his  own.  This  makes  it  reafon- 
able for  mankind  in  common  to  rely,  in  a  certain 
meafure  and  proportion,  one  upon  another.  BiiC 
neverthelefs,  as  we  find  it  obferved  in  the  verfe 
immediately  preceeding  that  which  you  heard  me 
read,  //  is  better  to  trufi  in  the  Lord^  than  to  put 
confidence  in  man. 

Moreover, 
As  it  is  natural   and   juft  for   men   to   place 
fome  hope  in  others,    in  perfons  in  common  life, 
their  equals  ;    fo  it  is  ftill  more  naturally  and  juft 
For  them  to  put  their  truft  in  thofe  that  are  ex- 
alted 


(.     8     ) 

alted  to  ftations  of  power  and  dignity  -,  in  their 
kings  and  other  civil  rulers  ;  in  thofe  who  have, 
or  are  like  foon  to  have,  the  adminiftration  of  the 
public  affairs  devolved  upon  theni  ;  in  the  good 
management  of  which,  the  welfare  of  every  indi- 
vidual is  more  or  lefs  concerned.  Thefe  perfons, 
by  how  much  greater  their  power  and  influence 
are,  and  their  obligations  ftronger,  than  thofe  of 
men  acting  in  a  private  ftation  ;  by  fo  much  more 
are  they  the  natural  objects  of  our  confidence. 
But  ftill  if  is  better  to  truji  in  the  Lord  than  to 
put  confidence  [  even  ]  in  Princes.  An  inferior 
and  fubordinate  truft  may  be  fitly  placed  in  thofe 
who  are  called  gods  in  this  world  ;  but  the  God 
of  heaven,  whofe  miniflers  for  good,  whofe  fer- 
vants  and  inflrumcnts,  they  are,  ought  to  be  our 
Jirft  and  lafl  refort  ;  the  fupreme  obje(^  of  our 
hope  and  dependence.  This  will  equally  appear, 
whether  we  confider  the  moral  or  the  natural 
imperfeflions  of  the  greateft  monarchs  of  this 
world,  compar'd  with  the  perfections  of  Him 
whofe  throne  is  in  the  heavenSy  and  who  judgeth 
among  the  gods. 

Trust  in  any  perfon  or  being,  if  it  be  a  rea- 
fonable  truft,  prefuppofes  in  him  certain  qualities 
and  powers  as  the  proper  ground  of  it.  Other- 
wife  you  arc  fenfible  it  would  be  as  rational  to  put 
our  truft  in  the  ferment ^  as  in  Him  that  was  to 

l^ruifi 


(    9    ) 

irttife  his  head  -,  as  proper  to  put  confidence  in  a 
bear  or  a  tyger  •,  in  an  ape  or  a  crocodile  -,  or  in 
the  idols  of  the  heathen,  which  are  vanity  and  a 
lye  ;  as  in  the  living  and  true  God. 

Those  qualities  in  any  being,    which  are  a  juft 
foundation  on  which  to  build  our  hopes,  are  re- 
ducible to  the  heads  of  goodnefs,  wifdom  ziid  pow- 
er.    It  is  only  an  indigent  creature,  as  was  intima- 
ted before  -,  one  that  Hands  in  need  of  fome  pro- 
te<flion  and  aflillance  from  without  ;  one  whofe  a- 
bilities  are  not  equal  to  his  own  wants  and  necef- 
fitics  •,  it  is  only  fuch  an  one,  that  is  the  fubjed  of 
that  affedion  which  we  exprefs  by  the  terms  truft, 
hope,  confidence,  and  the  like.     It  is  incompatible 
to,  and  can  take  no  place  in,  a  being  that  is  per- 
fe(5l,  felf-fufficicnt  and  iadependent.     And  as  that 
affection  of  the  human  mind  which   is  exprefied 
indifferently   by  thofe  feveral  terms,  prefuppofcs 
a  certain  indigence   and  poverty  of  nature,  from 
whence  it  arifes,  fo,  when  rightly  fixed    and  ter- 
minated, it  equally  fuppofes  certain  properties  and 
aftedlions   in    fome   other   being,    corrcfponding 
thereto  ;    or  a  being  that  is  fit  to  have  confidence 
rcpofed  in  him  :  Who  furely  can  be  no  other  than 
one  whofe  beneficent  difpofition,    whole   know- 
ledge and  whofe  abilities,  may  afi^ord  a  fupply  of 
that  good  and  felicity,    the  abfence   and  defire  of 
which,  are  implied  in  truft  or  hope.     A  being  that 
B  is 


(    io    ) 

is  averfe  to  the  doing  of  good  to  us,  is  certainly 
unfit  to  have  confidence  placed  in  him  for  what 
we  want  :  fo  alfo  is  one  that  either  knows  not  our 
wants,  or  how  to  relive  them  :  and  he  is  equally 
fo,  who  is  unable  to  do  it  ;  tho*  he  had  both  a 
.difpofition  for  it,  and  knowledge  fuflicient  to  di- 
refb  his  aftions. 

You  fee  then,  that  thefe  three  things  mufl  con- 
cur and  unite,  at  leaft  in  fome  degree  of  them, 
in  that  being  who  is,  in  any  meafure,  a  futable 
object:  of  human  confidence.  And  from  hence 
the  conclufion  feems  very  obvious.  That  that 
being  who  pofTefTeth  thefe  qualities  in  the  greateft 
meafure,  mufl  alfo  be  the  highefl  objeft  of  trufl- 
According  to  the  proportion  in  which  any  one 
is  inclined  to  befriend  us  \  knows  how  to  do  it, 
and  has  ability  for  it  •,  in  the  fame  proportion  is 
our  hope  to  be  fixed  on  him.  The  mofl  perfect 
being,  then,  mufl  certainly  be  the  fittefl  to  be  re- 
lied on,  not  only  by  us,  but  all  other  dependent 
creatures.  And  who  this  is,  furely  no  one  in  this  I 
afTembly  needs  to  be  informed. 

But  if  you  pleafe,  we  will  apply  the  general 
principle  laid  down  above,  a  little  more  particu- 
larly to  the  point  in  hand,  by  fome  reflexions  on 
the  apparent  deficiency  of  all  earthly  princes  and 
fovereigns,  with  relation  to  thofe  qualities  which        , 

are       I 

1 


(  II  ) 

are  the  foundation  of  a  rational  truft  ;  while  God 
is  poffeflcd  of  them,  in  an  unconfined,  unlimited 
manner.  The  order  in  which  they  have  already 
been  mentioned,  may  poflibly  ferve  our  purpofe 
as  well  as  any  other.  We  will  therefore  keep  to 
it  J  and,  accordingly,  begin  with  goodnefs. 

Under  this  term  you  will  here  underftand  the 
moral  qualities  in  general ;  for,  indeed,  from  this 
fource  they  all  flow  •,    and  in  this  they  all  termi- 
nate again  •,    fince  he  that  loveth  another^    hath 
fulfilled  the  law.     Juftice  and  mercy  •,  fidelity  and 
righteoufnefs,  and  the  like  virtues,  diftinguifhed 
one  from  another  by  particular  names  j  feem  only 
fo  many  different  modifications  and  exertions  of 
that  one  great  principle  of  goodnefs,  regulated,  as 
to  the  exercife  of  it,  by  reafon,  or  wifdom.     And 
it  muft  be  acknowledged  that  many  princes   have 
been   adorned  with  thefe  moral  excellencies  in  a 
great  degree  •,  fo  that  their  own  fubjefls,  and  for- 
eign dates  in  league  with  them,  might  have  con- 
fiderable   dependence  upon   them  -,    and  indeed, 
have  actually  been  happy   under  their  fmiles  and 
patronage.     Such   glorious  princes  we  ourfelves 
have  been  bleft  with.     But  furely  it  will  be  no  re- 
fle<5lion  upon  the  beft  of  earthly    fovereigns,  to 
fay  that  their  goodnefs  falls  infinitely  fhort  of  that 
of  the  Univerfal  Sovereign  -,  who  is  good  to  all ; 
righteous  in  all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his  works  •, 
B  2  and 


(      12     ) 

and  all  whofe  fubjeds  either  have  partaken,  or  do 
now  a<flually  partake^  of  his  beneficence.  For 
God  is  Love  •,  and  none  abfolutely  good  bcfice' 
him.  JNo  earthly  monarch  is  pcrfeflly  devefted 
of  moral  imperfcdions  :  And  thofe  who  have 
heretofore  adminiftred  public  affairs  with  the  great- 
eft  integrity  and  clemency,  have  neverthelels  de- 
viated from  the  rule  of  right  in  fome  inftanccs,  to 
the  hurt  of  thofe  who  confided  in  them.  There 
are  not  wanting  inftances  of  thofe,  who,  in  the 
firft  part  of  their  reign,  have  juftly  procured  to 
themfelves  univerfal  love  and  refpe<ft  •,  and  yet 
have,  long  before  the  clofe  of  it,  ftained  their 
hands,  and  royal  chara6lcr,  with  violence,  opprefli- 
on  and  blood  :  Becoming  the  curfc  and  fcourges, 
inftead  of  the  guardians,  of  fuch  as  trufted  in 
them.  Even  Nero  v/as  cfteemed  a  prince  of 
great  juftice  and  clemency,  the  former  part  of 
his  time  :  But  what  was  he  afterwards  ^  A  royal 
monfter,  and  imperial  butcher  !  The  fame  is  true 
of  many  others  likewife.  So  that  fubjeds  can 
never  have  an  abfolute  fecurity,  that  even  the  beft 
of  kings  will  not  alter  their  meafures  ;  and  op- 
prefs  and  devour,  inftead  of  defending,  them. 
They  are  as  liable  to  fall,  and  turn  aivay  from  their 
right eoiifiiefs,  as  other  men.  It  is  a  great  miftake 
to  imagine  that  any  ftate  of  earthly  power  and 
greatnefs,  can  make  a  man  independent  \  exalt  him 
above  the  reach  of  temptation,  or  remove  him  be- 
yond 


(    J5    ) 

yond  1  pofliblity  of  doing  the  moft  cruel,  unjuft 
and  fhameful  things.  As  men  rife  to  wealth  and 
power  and  grandeur,  their  old  pafTions  often  rife 
with  them  -,  or  fome  new  and  unnatural  ones  flart 
up  in  their  breads,  to  lead  them  aftray.  There 
are  no  bounds  that  can  be  fet  to  human  folly  and 
extravagance,  any  more  than  madnefs  can  be  con- 
trolled and  regulated  by  reafon — No  bounds  fet, 
unlefs  it  be  by  Him,  who  fays  to  the  raging  ocean, 
**  Thus  far  Ihalt  thou  come,  and  no  farther  •,  and 
"  hese  fhall  thy  proud  waves  be  flayed.  **  Nor 
indeed  does  it  appear  (  furely  not  in  this  age  of 
the  world  )  but  that  thofe  who  are  fixed  in  the 
highefi:  feats  of  worldly  power  and  magnificence, 
have  ftill  their  wants  and  cravings,  of  fome  fort 
or  other,  as  much  as  the  vulgar  ;  and  can  be  in- 
duced to  as  great  and  fhameful  wickednefs.  Any 
man  may  pofTibly  be  drawn  away  of  his  own 
unnatural  lujls  and  inticedy  how  much  foever  he 
may  be  exalted  above  the  reft  of  the  world  : 
Whereas  God,  and  He  only,  cannot  be  tempted 
with  evil  -,  becaufe  it  is  He,  and  only  He,  that  is 
truly  and  properly  independent. 

But  if  even  the  befl  of  princes  may  not  be  ab- 
iblutely  relied  on^  what  will  you  think  of  the 
word  ?  or  of  thofe  that  are  no  better  than  other 
people  ufually  are  ?  There  are  many  princes  in 
the  world,  or  at  leaft  there  have  been  many,  who 

could 


(    14    ) 

could  not  be  trufted  at  all ;  perfidious,  cruel,  dcf- 
potic  and  unrighteous  men  j  vvhofe  power  has  been 
employed  for  deftruclion,  and  not  for  falvation  -, 
for  bringing  mifcry  and  ruin  upon  their  fubjefts, 
inftead  of  promoting  the  common  felicity. 
You  will  all  readily  acknowledge  that  there  have 
been  fuch  princes  in  the  world.  And  do  you  ima- 
gine that  our  own  nation  has  been  wholly  free 
from  them  formerly,  as,  God  be  thanked,  it  has 
been  for  feveral  of  the  laft  reigns  ?  Have  there 
not  been  kings  upon  the  throne  of  England,  who 
have  impiouQy  violated  all  their  folemn  oaths  and 
engagements  to  their  people  ;  as  if  they  had  fworn, 
only  in  order  to  fliow  how  little  they  either  feared 
God  or  regarded  man  ? — Kings  who  have  robbed 
their  fubjefts  of  their  rights  and  fubftance,  by 
laying  taxes  upon  them  in  an  illegal  manner  .'' — 
Kings  that  have  fet  up  the  moft  iniquitous  and 
arbitrary  courts  ? — Kings  that  have  corrupted  law- 
yers and  judges,  to  uphold  them  and  their  crea- 
tures, in  all  their  unrighteous  and  opprefTive 
meafures  ? — Kings  that  have  been  the  encouragers 
and  patrons  of  perfccution  for  religion  ? — Kings 
that  were  for  taking  away  all  our  civil  and  facred 
priviledges  ? — Kings  that  were  for  introducing 
popery  and  arbitrary  rule  amongfl:  a  free  people  ? 
—Kings  that  were  for  governing,  not  by  fixed. 
Handing  laws,  but  (landing  armies  ? — Kings,  un- 
der whofe  adminiftration  no  man's  confcience,  or 

money, 


(    15    ) 

money,  or  life,  could  be  fecure  a  finglc  day  ? 

Are  the  very  names  of  CHARL.ES  and  JAMES 
forgotten  !  —  Or  do  you  not  remember  there 
was  once  a  royal  Houfe  of  Stewart  ! — One  might 
almoft  venture  to  aflert,  that  it  were  better  to 
truft,  not  only  in  the  Lord,  but  even  in  the  Prince 
of  the  power  of  the  air,  than  in  fome  other  princes 
whofe  hiftory  we  have  read  •,  and  in  whom  fcarcc 
any  one  ever  trufted,  without  being  deceived  and 
mocked  and  abufed  i  and  having  reafon  afterwards 
to  be  afliamed  of  his  confidence. 

So  that  you  fee  it  is  by  no  means  fafe  to  place 
an  intire  truft  in  earthly  princes  •,  not  even  in  the 
beft,  and  much  lefs  in  others.  For  men  of  high 
degree  are  often  a  lie,  while  men  of  low  degree  are 
vanity.  Nor  indeed  are  the  latter  ever  more 
vanity,  than  in  that  blind  and  undue  confidence 
which  they  often  place  in  the  former.  But  in 
God  we  may  fecurely  confide.  For  lie  is  immu- 
tably good  and  faithful.  Tho'  earthly  thrones 
may  be  polluted  and  difhonoured  with  falfhood 
and  unrightcoufncfs  ;  yet  jujlice  and  judgment  are 
always  the  habitation  of  His  :  mercy  and  truth  go 
before  His  face. 

But    if  we  could   fuppofe   the    goodnefs   of 
princes   to  be  perfect,  like   that  of  God,  fo  that 
we   might  always  depend  upon  their   beft   en- 
deavours 


(    i6    ) 

deavours  to  ferve  us  ;  yet  their  wifdom  and  faga- 
city  would  not  he  equal  to  the  goodnefs  of  their 
intentions.  For  which  rcafon  it  would  not  be 
proper  to  place  an  un refer ved  confidence  in  them. 
It  is  a  very  ancient  obfervation,  and  fufficiently 
verified  by  the  experience  of  later  times,  thsLZ  great 
men  are  not  always  wife.  A  king  may  be  a  child 
in  more  refpefts  than  one.  Good  fenfe  is  not  en- 
tailed with  the  crown,  on  the  elder  branch  of  the 
male  line.  Human  laws  cannot  make  wifdom 
hereditary,  tho*  they  may  things  of  inferior  value 
—thrones  and  fcepters.  And  what  great  degree 
of  trull  is  there  to  be  placed  in  a  weak,  fhort- 
fighted  prince,  whofe  head  has  nothing  but  a 
crown  to  adorn  it  ?  Be  his  intentions  ever  fo 
good,  nothing  confiderable  is  to  be  hoped  from 
him  :  and  indeed  he  may  probably  deftroy,  while 
he  means  to  fave.  Efpecially  fince  he  is  continual- 
ly expofed  to  be  miQed  by  crafty  and  defigning 
courtiers,  who  will  ftick  at  no  meafures,  however 
ruinous  to  the  public,  in  order  to  advance  their 
own  power  and  fortune.  By  thefe  he  may  be 
prompted  to  make  foolifh  wars  and  foolifh  peaces 
with  his  neighbours,  to  the  impoverifhing  and 
diftrefling  of  his  own  fubje<5ls  -,  and  to  the  lofs  of 
many  thoufands  of  their  lives  :  And  in  fhort,  be 
led  to  do  an  hundred  other  things-  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  public.  Nor  have  there  been  wanting 
examples  of  whole  nations  brought  to  ruin,  by 

well" 


(    17    ) 

meaning,  but  impolitic,  princes,  under  the  InfiU-' 
ence  of  wicked  counfels. 

Bltt  let  your  prince  be  v/i(e  as  V/ell  as  gcod  ; 
wh:itis  hum.in  wifdom  at  befu,  compared  to  that 
of  the  only  wife  God  ?  All  human  policy  and  fa- 
gacity,  are  mtrc  ignorance,  if  put  in  competition 
with  His,  who  lees  all  the  conn.^xions  and  depen- 
dencies of  things,  not  only  within  the  limits  of  one 
earthly  empire,  but  thro'  the  empire  of  the  uni- 
verle.  The  wifcft  of  kings  might  join  with  Da- 
vid \h  that  humble  acknowledgement  —  O  God^ 
thou  knoweji  my  fooliJJmefs. — God  takcth  the  wife 
in  their  own  craftinefs  :  and  whatever  he  pui'pofe?, 
with  relation  to  the  vvclfire,  or  the  deftruflion, 
of  any  nation,  there  is  no  ivifdom  ncr  under Ji and- 
in^  7ior  cotinfel  againft  the  Lord.  So  that  his  wif- 
dom,  no  lefs  than  his  goodnefs,  may  be  fafely 
confided  in  ;  tho'  the  bell  and  wifcft  princes  may 
miftake  in  their  meafures. 

It  will  firther  ilkiftrate  and  confirm  the  main 
point  in  view,  if  we  confidcr  to  what  a  narrow 
fphere  the  j^ower  of  the  greateft  monarchs  is  con- 
fined :  Whereas  God's  kingdom  ritlcth  over  alU 
and  none  canjlay  his  hand.  Our  fovereigns  are, 
at  bell,  but  frail,  weak  creatures,  being  frequently 
unable  to  accomplini  their  well-meant  defigns  for 
their  fubjefls  -,  fo  that  the  good  which  they  ivould^ 

C  thij 


(    i8    ) 

they  do  not.  They  arc  not  always  able  to  prefcrve 
peace  at  home  amongft  their  own  people,  or 
to  protect  them  againft  the  invafions  and  violence 
of  iSreign  enemies.  But  all  nations,  before  the 
Almighty,  are  as  the  [mall  duft  of  the  ballance. 
He  jiilleth  the  noife  of  the  feas,  and  the  tumult 
of  the  people  -,  and  maketh  loars  to  ceafe. 

There  are  many  great  and  national  calamities, 
"wliich  no  earthly  potentates  have  ability  either  to 
prevent  or  to  remedy.  For  tho'  Solomon  fays, 
that  zvhere  the  wcrd  of  a  king  is,  there  is  power  » 
tliis  is  far  from  being  true  without  any  reftriftion. 
Will  the  king's  word  difpel  the  tempeft  that 
hangs  over  us  ?  Will  it  arreft  the  thunder,  and 
the  liglitning,  anticipating  the  final  conflagration, 
and  ibiking  terror  thro'  a  guilty  world  ?  Will 
the  king's  word  fteady  the  earth  when  it  trembles 
io  its  centre,  threatning  to  fwallow  up  his  towns 
and  cities  ?  What  will  the  royal  mandate  fignify 
againft  the  murrain,  the  plague  and  the  peftilence, 
laying  waile  his  dominions  ?  Will  thefe  obey  his 
majefty's  command,  and  fpare  his  fubjefts  ?  Can 
the  king  call  rain  from  heaven  at  his  pleafure,  to 
refrefli  the  languifhing  earth  ?  or  keep  his  people 
ahve  in  famine  ?  Yea,  do  not  contemptible  in- 
fers bafRe  his  power  and  fovereignty  ?  the  locuft 
and  the  caterpillar  ;  and  prove  themfelves  mightier 
than  he  ?    Whither  then  can  we  flee  for  fuccour, 

under 


(    19    ) 

under  thefe  and  fuch-like  didrefTes,  but  to  that 
God  who  fways  an  univerfal  fcepter,  and  whom 
all  things  obey  ? 

Amidst  the  confufions  and  diforders  -,  the 
wars  and  tumults  and  niighty  revolutions,  of 
the  world  •,  the  numerous  calamities  we  are 
daily  expofed  to  ;  it  is  manifeft  that  all  human 
power  is  but  a  poor  refuge.  The  only  fecurity 
we  can  have,  is  in  the  llrength  and  providence  of 
the  Almighty.  It  is  he  that  is  our  refuge  and 
ftrength  ;  a  very  prefent  help  in  trouble,  when  the 
help  of  man  is  vain.  And  therefore,  fays  the 
Pfalmifi,  will  not  we  fear,  tho*  the  earth  be  re- 
moved into  the  midft  of  the  fea  ;  tho*  the  waters 
thereof  roar  and  be  troubled  ;  tho*  the  mountains 
fhake  with  the  fwelling  thereof —  He  that  dwelUth 
in  the  fecret  place  of  the  mofi  high  fhall  abide  un- 
der the  fhadow  of  the  Almighty  —  I  will  fay  of  the 
Lord,  He  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortrefs  •,  my  God, 
in  him  will  I  trufi.  Surely  he  fhall  deliver  thee 
from  the  ftiare  of  the  fowler,  and  from  the  noifom 
pefiilence  :  He  flmll  cover  thee  with  his  feathers  ; 
and  under  his  wings  fJj alt  thou  trufi. 

So  far  are  the  princes  of  the  earth  from  being 

adequate  obje(5ls   of  truft   and  hope  to  us,  tha^ 

they    arc    not    always    able    to    proteft   them- 

felves.      They    totter  and    tremble   upon  their 

C  '^  thrones, 


(     20     ) 

thrones,  like  a  reed  Jhaken  •with  the  'wind  j  and 
iiiuft  betake  themfelves  to  God  for  rupport,  on 
whom  is  all  their  dependence.  And  h  it  net  evi- 
dently vain  for  us  to  rely  chiefly  on  thofe,  whofe 
great  hope  and  fecurity  muft  be  placed  in  a.  pow- 
er fuperior  to  their  own  ? 

Besides  'tis  to  be  remembr-ed  that  we  have  a 
future^  as  well  as  a  })rcfent,  intereft  depending  : 
our  fouls  are  to  be  provided  for,  no  lefs  than  our 
bodies.  And  on  whom  fliall  we  rely  for  the  fafe- 
ty  of  the>"}i  .^  Can  our  kings  forgive  our  fins  ;  and 
calm  our  troubled  confciences  r  Can  they  prc- 
ferve  us  from  the  v/r:itli  to  come  ^  and  bcftow 
Upon  us  a  bleffed  immortality  ?  How  great  foever 
t\'it  power  of  our  princes  is,  to  fuccour  and  be- 
friend us,  during  this  momentary  life  -,  yet  furely 
when  this  has  a  period  put  to  ir,  their  power  over 
lis  alfo  ceafes.  When  our  mortal  courfe  is  once 
finifned,  they  have  no  more  that  they  ecu  do^ 
whether  to  harm*  or  help  us.  As  to  what  is  to 
follow  after  y/e  leave  this  world,  our  only  depen- 
dence js  to  be  placed  where  it  ought  principally 
to  be  placed  at  prefent  j  in  that  God  whofc 
power  extends  to  cur  immortal,  no  Itls  than 
our  mortal,  part  ;  and  who  can  either  dejtroy 
hth  foul  sand  body  in  hell,  or  caufe  .both  to 
Jive  ^nd  rejoice  in  heaven.  God  can  be  our  fup- 
port  and  comfort,  not  only   in  the  fun-lhine   of 

life. 


(      21      ) 

life,  but  in  ihe  valley  of  the  Jhadow  cf  deaths, 
which  we  muft  loon  pafs  thro\  When  all  out- 
ward luccour  fails  ;  yea,  when  our  own  flejij  and 
heart  fimll  fail  us  ;  He  is  ftill  thejirength  of  cur 
heart,  and  our  portion  forever. 

Nor  indeed  can  we  be  certain  of  proteftion  frotn 
our  earthly  fovereigns,  even  while  we  live,  becaufe 
tiiey  themfelves  may  die  before  us.  //  is  appointed 
unto  kings  and  princes  once  to  die,  as  well  as 
to  flaves  and  beggars.  And  what  fecure  confi- 
dence can  be  repofed  in  thofe,  who  will  in  a  few 
days  lofe  all  the  little  power  they  have  at  prefent  ? 
Let  your  king  be  good  j  let  him  be  wife  ;  let 
him  be  great  and  powerful  j  the  life  of  this  earth- 
ly god  is  as  precarious  as  that  of  men.  The 
rulers  and  potentates  of  the  world,  are  not  com- 
monly bleft  with  firmer  nerves  and  finews,  and 
more  robuft  conftitutions,  than  the  meaneft  of 
[heir  fubjefts.  They  wither  awaya  and  fall  with 
years,  as  others  do  ;  unlefs,  perhaps,  they  find  a 
premature  death.  A  dagger,  or  a  cannon-ball, 
or  poifon,  is  as  fatal  to  the  prince  as  the  peafant. 
The  lives  of  the  great,  are  in  continual  jeopardy, 
either  from  fccrcc  treachery,  or  open  violence. 
Sicknefs  does  not  reverence  the  head  that  wears  a 
crown,  any  more  than  one  which  has  not  fo  much 
as  a  cowl,  or  a  cap  to  cover  it.  Death  enters 
the  royal  courtj  as  boldly  as  the  cottage  y  the 

palace, 


(     22     ) 

palace,  as  the  prifon.  Too  many  of  the  rulers  of 
the  earth,  are  indeed  apt  to  forget,  in  the  great- 
nefs  of  their  pomp  and  power,  and  while  they 
are  giving  law  to  others,  that  themfelves  arc  fub- 
jecl  to  the  great  law  of  mortality.  But  fearch  the 
tombs  and  monuments  of  the  dead,  and  you  will 
find  royal  duft:  and  afhes  and  bones,  as  well  as 
beggarly.  And  he  that  was,  perhaps,  once  the 
terror  of  one  half  the  world,  and  the  hope  and 
confidence  of  the  other,  is  long  fmce  become  the 
prey  of  virmin.  The  accuteft  antiquary  might 
be  puzzled  to  diftinguifh  the  fcull  of  C^Jar  or 
Alexander^  from  that  oi  Lazarus  y  were  they  yet 
intire ;  and  the  hand  that  fuftained  a  fcepter,  from 
that  which  held  a  fpade  or  a  plough.  *  Death 
levels  ail  ;  and  is  more  properly  an  iiniverfal 
monarch,  than  any  one  who  has  yet  afpired  to 
that  charafter.  The  great  and  fmall  will  lie  down 
alike  in  the  duji,  and  the  worms  finll  cover  them. 
This  is  the  conclufion   of  all  earthly  power  and 

fplendor  :  the  end  of  human  greatnefs  and 

majefty.     And   verily  every  man  at  his  beji  ejiate 
is  altogether  vanity.  — 

One  would  think  that  we,  and  indeed  the 
whole  britilh  empire,  have  lately  had  fuch  an 
affeding  example  of  human  frailty  and  mortality. 


»  Vi4.  Mr.  Eml;fa\  Sermon  on  the  dcaAof  K.WitLiAM. 

as 


(     23     ) 

as  might,  in  a  manner,  fuperfede  the  necefTity  of 
all  other  arguments,  and  fix  our  thoughts  on  the 
ever  living  God,  as  our  only  fure  dependence  and 
confidence.  That  illuftrious  perfonage,  who  is 
lately  fallen  like  other  of  the  Princes,  and  for 
whom  at  lead  three  nations  mourn,  was  not  in- 
deed aftually  invefted  with  the  regal  charafter 
and  dignity  ;  but  only  an  heir  to  them  :  And 
according  to  men's  way  of  guefiing  at  future 
events,  (  for  they  can  do  no  more  than  guefs  ) 
was  likely  in  the  courfe  of  a  few  years  to  fill  and 
adorn  the  Britifh  throne.  His  royal  Father  being 
already  fo  full  of  days,  that  we  cannot  expeft  to 
enjoy  the  blefTing  of  his  life  and  reign  much 
longer  :  Efpecially  as  the  national  impiety  gives 
us  too  much  reafon  to  apprehend,  that  God  may 
vijit  our  tranfgrejftons  with  a  rod,  and  cur  iniqui- 
ttes  with  Jlripes.  But  while  our  prefent  legal  and 
gracious  Sovereign  has  been  haftning  cowards  the 
decline  of  life,  and  the  end  of  his  righteous  ad- 
miniftration,  the  hopes  of  his  fubjefts  have  been 
fixed  on  his  royal  Son,  the  heir  of  his  crown  and 
dominions.  Nor,  indeed,  have  there  been  many 
Princes  rifing  up  in  the  world,  in  whom  the 
confidence  of  their  future  fubjefts  could  be  fo  juft- 
ly  placed,  as  in  Him  —  the  heir,  not  only  of 
the  authority  and  higheft  titles,  but  of  the  prince- 
ly qualities,  of  his  royal  anccftors. 

Indeed 


(      24     ) 

Indeed  one  mufl  be  little  acquainted  with  the 
ftate  of  the  world  at  prefent,  or  the  hiftory  of 
former  times,  who  is  not  aware  how  fmall  a  ftock 
of  real  merit  will  ufually  go  a  great  ways  in  per- 
fons  of  high  birth  and  diftinction  ;  efpecially  in 
thofe  who  have  that  great  merit  of  having  a  crown 
in  poffefTion  or  reverfion.  A  fmall  fhare  of  good 
fenfe  is  enough  to  gain  even  the  remote  candidates 
for  future  empire,  the  reputation  of  wifdom  •,  and 
Solomon  himfelf  mufl  be  robbed  of  his  name,  to 
grace  halt-fools  and  idiots.  As  little  piety  and 
virtue  are  alfo  fufficient  to  procure  perfons  in  the 
higher  clalTes  of  life,  the  charafler  of  excellent 
men,  and  even  of  Saints  —  While  eminent  good- 
nefs  among  the  vulgar  and  middle  fort,  pafTes 
wholly  unobferved,  or  at  leaft  without  its  due 
praife  ;  the  fame,  or  a  much  lefs  degree  of  it,  in 
people  of  figure  and  diftinftion,  opeps  every 
mouth  in  its  commendation  ;  and  all  vie  with  one 
another  in  fulfom  flattery  and  extravagance.  The 
good  fortune  of  thefe  dignitaries,  whether  in 
church  or  flatc,  together  with  the  folly  and  wick- 
ednefs  of  parafites,  arc  fet  in  a  firong  and  beaud- 
ful  point, of  light  by  the  poet,  whofe  words  may 
be  thought  fufficiently  grave  for  this  place — Uil- 
lefs  my  memory  fails  me  they  run  thus 

"  'Tis  from  high  life,  high  characters  are  drawn, 
"  A  faint  in  crape,  is  twice  a  faint  in  lawn  : 

"  A 


(      25     ) 

«'  A  judge  Is  jiifl:,  a  chanc'lor  jufter  ftili  ; 
«'  A  gownman  learn'd  •,  abifhop,  what  you  will* 
"  Wife,  if  a  miniftcr  -,  but  if  a  king, 
"  More  wife,  more  lcarn*d,    more  juft,  more 
ev'ry  thing.  '* 

It  is  in  fliorr,  fo  common  and  (hamcf ul  Ji  prac- 
tice to  extol  perfons  of  mean  accomplifhments  and 
iittle  worth,  merely  bscaufe  they  poITefs  great 
powc  and  wealth  and  external  dignity  -,  that  one 
is  almoft  afraid  to  fpcak  honourably  of  real  merit 
in  fuperiof  hfc,  left  it  ihould  be  looked  upon  33 
Words  of  courfe,  and  bafe,  fervile  flattery  •,  the 
bad  efFefts  of  winch  are  not^  perhaps,  lefs,  or 
fewer  in  number,  than  thofe  of  calumny  and  de- 
traflion.  The  confideration  now  mentioned,  to=» 
gether  with  that  of  the  difficulty  of  coming  to 
any  certain  knowledge  concerning  the  true  cha- 
ra(fler  of  gteat  men  at  a  diftance,  either  while  they 
live,  or  foon  after  they  are  dead  i  thefc  confice- 
rations  (  not  to  mention  my  own  infufficiency  for 
fuch  a  tafk  )  have,  in  a  manner,  difcouraged  me 
from  faying  any  thing  particularly  concerning  the 
illuftrious  Prince,  lately  deceafed.  But  leaft  a  total 
filence  upon  fuch  an  occafion,  fliould  be  imputed 
to  a  worfe  caufe,  and  conftrucd  into  fomething 
far  more  criminal  than  caution  and  diffidence  < 
I  Ihall  juft  obfcn^e, 

D  That 


(     26     ) 

That  if  credit  is  due  to  reports  that  have 
CroiTcd  the  Atlantic  -,  to  the  general  voice  of  the 
nation,  and  thcfe  particularly  who  have  had  the 
:bctl  opportunity  to  acquaint  themftlves  with  this 
Prince's  charader -,  ue  might  have  jullly  expected 
in  Him,  zgocd  King.  •,  a  trueFathtr  to  His  people  •, 
iyi.i  fucTi  a  common  blefiing  as  would  have  gone 
as  jar  as  any  thing,  towards  allaying  the  national 
grief,  when  it  fnould  pleafe  Heaven  to  deprive 
i.s  of  Him,  who  nov\r  holds  the  Britifi  Icepttr. 

His  Royal  Highnefs  had  given  fufHcient  proof 
Ox  his  being  blcft  vvith  fuch  a  degree  of  good  fcnfe, 
and  folid  underftanding,  as  were  necefiary  to  make 
liim  a  difcrete  and  wile  ruler.  Nor  v/as  his  educa- 
tion in  the  principles  of  fuperftition  and  tyranny, 
but  fuch  as  became  an  Heir  to  the  imperial  throne 
ot  Great-Britain.  His  application  to  reading  and 
iludy,  efpecially  in  the  lad  years  of  his  life,  was 
very  great,  and,  perliaps,  fomething  lingular  in  a 
nicdtrn  Prince.  Nor  were  his  iludics  turned,  as 
thofc  of  fome  other  Princes  have  been,  to  fuch 
things  as  were  rather  ornamental,  than  ufeful  j  or 
as  tended  only  to  debafe  royalty  into  pedantry  : 
But  to  thofe  things  which  furely  every  BritiJJ:> 
King  ought  to  know — His  duty  to  God  and  man 
—  Himfelf  —  Human  nature,  and  the  various 
tempers  and  pafTions  of  mankind  ;  in  the  know- 
ledge of  which  is  chiefly  founded  the  true  art  of 

governing 


(      27      ) 

governing — I'hc  nature  and  ends  of  civil  govern- 
ment— The  confi-itutions,  and  various  interefts  of 
the  icveral  nations  and  ftates  of  Europe  ;  and  par- 
ticularly of  thofe  nations  which  He  was  to  govern, 
had  not  Heaven  e^ctcrrnincd   otherwife.  — 

Ills  attendance  upon  the  worfliip  of  God  was 
both  more  conllant  Ani  more  devour,  than  that  c^ 
princes  and  couiders  ufually  is.  And  this,  to- 
gether with  that  excellent  example  of  the  perfonal 
and  focial  virtues,  which  he  exhibited,  had  a  very 
favourable  and  promifing  afpecft  upon  the  morals 
of  the  nation  -,  the  great  need  of  reforming  which. 
He  was  deeply  lenfible  of. 

\\t.  was  a  zealous  promoter  of  liberal  arts  and 
ingenuous  learning  in  the  nation  \  not  chufing,  as 
lomc  politicians  have  done,  to  rule  over  fools  and 
brutes,  but  wife  men  —  A  great  cncourager  of 
hufoandry,  manufactures  and  commerce  •,  (  the 
true  fources  of  national  wealth  and  felicity  :  ) 
And  of  all  other  defigns  in  which  he  apprehended 
the  public  intereft  was  concerned  ;  of  which  he 
was  doubtlefs  among  the  bell  judges.  And  as  he 
well  underftood  the  confequence  and  importance 
of  the  BritifJj  Settlements  in  jimcricay  he  was  ac- 
cordingly dcfirous  of  cherifliing  and  encouraging 
them.  Nor  had  NEW-ENGLAND  in  particu- 
lar, a  fmall  ihare  in  His  royal  grace  and  alTetlion. 
D  2  Tq 


(     28      ) 

To  which,  indeed,  one  may  fay  with  r.iodclly, 
it  had  not  a  lefs  jiifl  claim,  than  any  other  remote 
part  of  the  Britijh  dominions  whatever  •,  whether 
in  refpe(5l  of  its  fledfaft  loyalty  to  the  illuftrious 
Houfe  of  Hanover  ;  or  its  beneficial  fervices  to 
the  crown  and  naiion  ;  the  real  interefls  of  which, 
'tis  to  be  hoped,  will  never  be  tlK)Ught  fcparate, 
but  the  fame. 

The  Prince's  condiid  in  domedic  life  i  his  ten- 
dernefs  and  fidelity  to  his  mofc  excellent  Princefs  i 
his  paternal  care  and  affedion  •,  his  good  cecono- 
niy,  and  every  thing  he  did  within  the  walls  of 
the  palace,  fhew'd  the  good  and  noble,  the  gene- 
rous and  princely  mind.  This  they  did  no  Icfs 
than  that  part  of  his  conduft  which  fell  under 
more  general  obfervation.  And  indeed  every 
man's  true  temper  and  character  are  much  better 
difcerned,  by  his  behaviour  in  common  iind  private 
life,  than  in  public  -,  wherein  goodncfs  is  more 
frequently  aped  and  counterfeited,  than  really 
pratflifed.  Confider'd  in  this  yiew,  the  Prince  al- 
ways difcovcrM  the  humane  and  juft,  the  well- 
patur'd  and  ccufteoLis  man  :  which  he  did  with- 
out degrading  himfelf  in  the  eyes  of  thofe  about 
him,  or  forgetting  that  he  was  born  to  wear  a 
crown.  And  had  he  hved  to  this,  there  is  no 
reafon  to  doubt  but  thofe  virtues  which  appeat'd 
»o  amiablcj  and  £hone   fo  bright,  in  a   narrower 

iphercj 


(     29") 

ipherc,  diffufing  joy  thro'  his  palace,  would  have 
been  drawn  forth  into  more  public  view,  and  exer-r 
ted  from  the  throne  with  peculiar  advantage  •,  to 
the  joy  and  felicity  of  his  greater  family,  the 
people  of  Great-Britain  :  All  of  them,  I  mean, 
except  t\iQkJirange  men,  who  had  rather  be  ruled 
by  a  papi^^  and  Italim  tyrant,  than  a  protejlant 
Prince,  under  the  reflriftion  of  falutgry  laws. 

And  this  leads  me  to  obferve,  that  the  Prince 
had    a   due  abhorrence  of  popery  and  arbitrary 
government,  as  being  both  of  them  contrary  to 
reafon   and  chriltianity  ;  inconfiftent  with  the  na- 
tural rights  of  mankind,  and  the  trueft  happinefs 
of  human  fociety.     His  own  good  fenfe  doubtlcfs 
ruggclied  to  him  the  impiety  of  fuch  a  religion  •, 
the  injuftice  of  this  lort  of  government  ;  and  at- 
tached him  firmly  to  the  proteftant  intereft,  and 
a  limited  monarchy  ;  fuch  as  our  own.     But  it  is 
not  improbable  that  he  was  the  more  eftablifhed  ia 
thefe  glorious  principles  of  a  free  government  and 
free  religion,  by  refiefting  upon  his  difcent ;  which 
was  from  an  illufbrious  Houfe,    the  Patrons  and 
Bulwark  of  Liberty.,  from  the  very  beginning  of 
the  reformation.     Which  reformation  the  prince- 
himfelfwas,  indeed,  defirous  of  feeing  carried  in- 
to greater  pcrfecftion,  and   brought  nearer  to  the 
primitive  and  chriftian  model  -,    efpecially  in  Ejtg- 
land.    For  it  is  faid  He  was  a  great  promoter  of 

that 


(    30    ) 

thit  late,  important  propofal  for  a  Review  ;  in 
order  to  the  altering  and  amending  of  thofe,  nu- 
nierous  things  in  the  national  church,  which  liave 
been  fo  long  grievous,  not  only  to  non-conformijlsy 
but  alfo  to  great  n'jmbers  of  the  heSi  and  wifejl 
men  of  the  cflablilhed  religion. 

1  HE  Prince's  charitable  donations  towards  the 
relief  of  the  poor  and  Tick  j  towards  propagating 
chriftianity  in  the  world  •,  and  upon  other  occa- 
Jions,  were  many  and  liberal  ;  fiich  as  become  a 
prince.  And  we  may  reafonably  fuppofe,  that  he 
was  not  a  chriftian  in  name  only,  but  in  temper  -, 
having  that  divine  principle  in  him,  which  'uoorkcth 
hy  love  and  good  deeds ;  and  forms  the  manners. 

I  DO  not  remember  that  Kis  Royal  Highnefs 
Iiad  ever  an  opportunity  afforded  him,  to  difcover 
his  military  virtue. — However  we  know  he  dif- 
cover'd  a  much  more  excellent  fort  of  heroifm, 
than  that  which  is  fhown  in  fields  of  battle,  and 
the  greateft  martial  atchievements.  For  he  that 
hjlovj  to  anger ^  is  better  than  the  mighty  ;  and  he 
that  ruleth  his  fpirit,  than  he  that  taketh  a  city. 

Such,  in  brief,  was  that  excellent  man,  that 
good  Prince,  whofe  death  the  nation  docs  now, 
and  may,  perhaps,  long  lament.  And  furely  fuch 
qualities  in  the  heir  apparent,  might  juftly   raife 

the 


(    31    ) 

the  hopes  and  expedlations  of  all,  as  they  promi- 
fed  a  wife  and  pious,  a  righteous  and  ciement 
fiiccellbr,  to  t!ie  BritiJJj  throne  :  than  whom  a 
greater  blefTing  of  a  temporal  nature,  fcarce  Hea- 
ven itfcif  could  have  bellowed  upon  us.  A  perfon 
that  lb  well  underltood  how  to  govern  himfelf^ 
amidfl:  the  fnares  and  temptations  of  a  courts  where 
it  is  not  (  God  knows  )  always  the  fafljion  to  be 
wife  and  virtuous  •,  could  not  eafily  have  fail'd  to 
govern  others  with  juftice  and  wifdom  ;  or,  in  the 
language  of  fcripture,  to  h^ytfed  them  according 
So  the  integrity  of  his  hearty  and  guided  them  by  the 
Jkilfulnefs  of  his  hands.  —  But  he  is  gone  —  gone 
from  an  earthly  Kingdom,  liable  to  changes  and 
revolutions  •,  to  poilefs  another,  which  hath  more 
liable  foundations  ;  a  kingdom  that  cannot  he 
fiaken  -,  and  in  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  which, 
there  will  be  no  pretender  to  difturb  him. 

\j  will  not  be  imagined  that  what  has  been  faid 
above,  concerning  the  deceaicd  and  lamented 
Prince,  is  from  any  certain  knov.'ledge  of  the 
fpeaker  •,  which  is  impofiible  upon  many  accounts. 
I  prefume  no  farther,  therefore,  than  to  fay,  from 
fhc  bell:  intelligence  I  have  been  able  to  gain  in 
thefe  remote  parts,  and  in  my  lov/  ft^ition,  that 
nothing  hus  been  laid  but  plain,  fober  truth  -,  and 
that  more  might  have  been  faid  with  equal  julVicc. 
Tt  fcems  not  confiftent  with  the  religion  of  Jesus 

Christ 


(    3^    ) 

Christ  our  blefled  Redeemer,  in  whole  inouth 
there  was  ?io  guile  ;  or  indeed  with  a  principle  of 
manly  fimplicity  and  integrity,  to  flatter  even 
hving  princes,  and  tnuch  lefsj  dead  ones,  as  the 
manner  of  fome  is.  And  one  would  think  that  a 
good  man  would  rather  lofe  the  faculty  of  fpeech 
intirely,  than  prollitute  it  in  beftowing  that  praife^ 
which  is  due  only  to  virtue  and  wifdom,  upon 
vice  and  folly,  however  dignified  by  founding  titles, 
wealth  and  authority. — 

The  death  of  this  excellent  perfon  in  the  midil 
of  his  days,  while  his  royal  Father  is  in  the  decline, 
and  his  royal  Son,  only  in  bloflbm  or  bud,  of  life, 
is  one  of  thofe  dark  and  intricate  fteps  of  divine 
providence,  which  human  reafon  is  not  able  to 
trace^  and  throughly  comprehend.  That  a  Frince 
fo  well  form'd  for  government  ;  fo  calculated  to 
make  a  people  happy  ;  fiiould  be  cut  down  at  the 
middle  ftage  of  life,  without  ever  having  fcope  and 
opportunity  to  exercife  his  regal  virtues,  by  pof- 
fefling  his  hereditary  throne  —  cut  down  at  a  time 
when  he  was  likely,  in  the  common  courfe  oi 
human  affairs,  to  be  foon  called  upon  the  mofl 
public  and  important  flage  ofadtion  —  at  a  time 
when  the  general  expeftation  concerning  him  was 
taifed  to  fuch  a  pitch  ;  more  nations  than  onej 
hoping  to  fti  under  his  Jhadow  with  great  delight 
—and  when  the  next  heir  to  the  crown,  (  whom 

God 


(  z^  ) 

God  prefcrve  and  blefs  )  is,  by  To  many  years,  a 
minor  : — this,  fiirely,  is  one  of  thofc  fecrei  things 
which  belong  to  God  ;  and  for  which  he  has  cer- 
tainly wife  rea{ons,  however  infcrutablc  to  us. 
Infinite  wifdom  and  goodnefs  never  aft  at  random, 
extetnpore,  and  without  defign  -,  but  always  ac- 
cording to  the  exafteft  rules,  and  for  important 
ends  :  Nor,  indeed,  at  all  the  lefs  fo,  becaufe 
fhort-fighted,  mok-ey*d  man,  is  not  able  to  difcern 
them. 

While,  therefore,  wc  mourn  this,  to  US,  ca- 
lamitous event,  as  every  good  Briton  does,  we 
ought  humbly  and  patiently  to  acquiefce  in  it,  as 
what  was  perfeftly  wife  and  righteous  •,  faying 
with  the  infpired  apoftle  upon  another  occafion  — 
O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wifdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  How  unfearchable  are  his 
judgments,  and  his  ways  pafl  finding  out  !  Indeed 
however  unable  we  may  be  to  dive  to  the  bottom 
of  this  and  fuch-like  providences,  which  are  ^^r^^^ 
deep  y  we  may  be  pretty  furc  that  one  ufe  we  arc 
to  make  of  them,  is  the  learning  of  humility. 
We  are  to  be  difciplincd  by  them  to  a  modeft  tem- 
per and  deportment  ;  to  an  implicit,  humble  fub- 
mifTion  to  the  will  and  conducft  of  the  Almighty  •, 
not  prefuming  ourfelves  to  be  competent  judges  of 
all  the  fteps  He  takes  in  his  adminiftration  of  the 
world.     So  tljat  our  ignorance  is,    in  a  fort,  our 

E  '^:- 


(    34    ) 

inftru5iGr  and  fchool-majler^  in  one  moft  impor- 
'  tant  branch  of  liuman  wirdoin  ;  —  the  knowledge, 
and  habitual  Icnfe,  of  our  own  folly  and  weaknefs. 
Nor  let  us  difdain  to  learn  even  of  fuch  a  pre- 
ceptor —  tliat  pride  was  not  made  for  man.  God 
would  not  have  fuch  creatures  to  be  vain  and  ar- 
rogant ;  or  addicted  to  find  fault  with  every  thing 
they  cannot  perfe6i:ly  underftand,  in  the  courfe  of 
his  providence  -,  but  to  be  ftill,  and  ktiCLV  that  he 
is  God  i  the  Governor  among  the  nations. 

Another    lefTon  we   arc  to   learn  from  this 
event,  is  doubtlefs   that  which  was   the  fubjed  of 
the  former  part   of  this  difcourfe,  namely,  That 
//  is  better  to  trufi  i  n  the  Lord,  than  to  put   con- 
fidence in  princes.     We  are    admonifhed  hereby, 
not  to  place  our  great  fecurity   and   happinefs,  in 
the  governors  and  princes    of  the  world  -,  whofe 
life  is  a  vapor.,  like  that  of  other  men  -,    and  may 
perhaps  be  fuddenly    diflipated,    both   when   we 
Icaft  expecSl  it,    and  moll    need   their  alTiftance. 
From  fuch  weak  and  vain  dependencies,   we  are 
naturally  led  up  to  the  great  Author   of  all  our 
beings  ;  the  fource  of  all  our  good  ;  the  fovereign 
Ruler  of  the  w^orld,  by  whom  kings  live  and  reign 
and  decree  jufiice  :    And   at  whofe   pleafure  they 
alfo  die  —  To  Him  we  are  led,  as  our  rock  and 
fortrefs  ;  our  only  fure  refuge,   the  only  adequate 
objcd  of  our  hope  and  confidence.     And  fince 

we 


'.    35    ) 

we  are  under  his  almighty  care  and  girardianfhip, 
we   need  not    defpair   of    having     all   our   rea- 
fonable  wants  fupplied  •,  or  of  efcaping  thofe  very 
evils,  of  which  furely  wc  have  fome  reafon  to  be 
apprehenfive,  with  relation  to  the  untimely  .death 
of  this  good  Prince.     Nothing  is  to  be  defpaired 
of,  that  is  truly  good  and  proper   for  us,  while 
infinite  wifdom,    power    and    goodnefs  govern. 
The  world,  depend  upon  it,  the  world  will  never 
fufFcr   fliipwreck,    and  be  wholly  caft    away,  if 
God  is  pleafed  to  take  the  helm,  to  ftcer  and  con- 
ducl  it ;  tho'  all  other  pilots  of  the  ftate  fhould  be 
wafhed  over-board,  and  drown'd.     So  that  even 
in  the  moll  dangerous  and    tempeftuous  feafons, 
we  are  not  without  conlolation  :  We  know  where 
to  take  hiirbor  and  fanduary,  from  thefiormy  wind 
and  temped  ;  where  to  caft  the  anchor  of  our  hope, 
till  the  fore  calamities  are  over-pafl.     Whoever 
dies,  God  furvivcs  •,  with  whom  we  may  acqtiaitit 
ourfelves  j  and  he  at  peace.     He  lives  and  reigns 
the  King  eternal   and  itmnortal,    tho'   invifible  to 
mortal  fight  ;  and  only  wife  alfo,  tho'  human  folly 
does  not  difcern    th.e   wifdom    of   his   conduct. 
Wherefore,  while  the  Lord  rei^neth,  let  the  earth 
rejoice  ^  let  the  multitude  of  the  ifles  he  glad  thereof 
— Make  a  joyful  noife  unto  the  Lcrd^  all  ye  lands 
— For  the  Lord  is  good,  his  mercy  is  everlajiing, 
and  his  truth  to  all  generations  —  Happy  is  he 
that   hath  the  God  cf  Jacob  for   his  help  ;    cind 
E  2  whofe 


(   36   )' 

wbofe  hope   is  in  the  Lord    his  God,    which  made 
heaven  and  earth  -,  the  fca,  and  all  that  is  therein. 

But  you  will  remember  that  this  is  fuch  an 
happinefs  as  none  can  be  intitled  to,  but  thofe  who 
love  and  obey  the  God  in  whom  they  truft.  It  is 
a  folecifm  and  contradiftion  for  any  to  pretend  to 
a.  pious  confidence  in  God,  and  to  folace  them- 
felves  in  contemplating  his  power  and  providence  ; 
v/hile  they  live  in  wilful  rebellion  againil  him  -, 
v;hile  they  abufe  his  meicy,  defpife  hisjuftice,  and 
Icorn  his  thunder.  If  we  would  exercife  a  rational 
truft  in  God,  and  enjoy  the  happinefs  'naturally 
refulting  therefrom,  we  muft  be  reconciled  to 
him  thro'  the  great  Mediator  betwixt  Him  and 
man  ;  and  obey  his  holy  commandments.  Cther- 
wife  the  divine  wifdom  and  power,  and  even  good- 
nef?,  are  rather  a  juft  ground  of  terror,  than  of 
confolation,  to  us.  For  there  is  no  -peace,  faith 
ir.y  God,  to  the  wicked. 

The  great  and  forrowful  event  we  have  been 
confidering,  may  alfo  ferve  as  a  warning  to  all 
perfons,  exalted  to  power  and  dignity  in  the  world, 
not  to  grow  vain  and  imperious  •,  not  to  plume 
themfelvcs  upon  their  grandeur,  and  fuperiority 
over  others  :  But  to  remember  that  they  arc  alfo 
once  to  d'e,  fooncr  or  later ;  and  to  give  an  account 
of  themfelves  to  Him,  who  regardeth  not  the  per- 

fcn^ 


(   37  ) 

fons  of  princes ;— to  give  an  account,  to  what  ufe 
they  have  applied  their  wealth  and  fuperior  talents ; 
whether  to  the  glorifying  of  Him  that  gave  them, 
and  the  good  of  their  fellow- men  •,  or  to  the  dif- 
honoring  of  the  One,  and  the  injury  and  opprefli- 
on  of  the  other — Alas !  how  many  are  there,  with 
refpe(5l  to  whom  this  will  be  a  moft  awful  and 
terrible  reckoning. — 

There  is,  as  there  ought  to  be,  a  wide   diffe- 
rence of  rank,  and  circumftance  amongft  mankind, 
in  this  world  :    But  in  the  other,  and  before  the 
judgment-feat  of  Chrifl,  where  all  nations  are  to  be 
gathered,  thcfe  temporary  di{lin6lions   will  be  all 
laid  afide.     In  that  vaft  multitude,  which  no  man 
can  number^  there  will  be  no  diftinftions  of  high 
and  low,  rich  and  poor,  bond  and  free  ;    there 
will  be  neither  prince  nor  fubjeft  •,    emperor  nor 
flave.     You  will  fee  none  in  purple  robes,  with 
crowns  and  fcepters  and  diadems  •,  none  in  chains 
and  fliackles  ;  but  all,  common  men,  the  fmful 
poftcrity  of  Adam  and  Eve,  waiting  their  final  fen- 
tence  from  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  :    Who  will 
do  right,  rendering   to  every  one,  not  according 
to  his  former  rank  and  ftation  in  the  world,  but 
accerding  as  his  ijoork  has  been. 

When  we  behold   the  princes  and  fovereigns 
of  the  world,  daily  doing  homage  to   the  king  of 

ter- 


f  38  ) 

terrors ;  cafting  down  their  crowns  at  his  feet,  and 
Jeaving  all  their  royal  pomp  and  honors  in  the 
duft  ;  this  fureiy  admoniihes  us  to  guard  againft 
pride  and  infolence  ;  againft  valuing  ourfelves 
upon  thofe  little  advantages  and  diftincftions  which 
we  are  fo  prone  to  over-rate,  and  fet  a  greater 
price  upon  than  they  deferve.  'Tis  a  folemn  lec- 
ture againft  that  vanity  j  againft  thofe  fwclling 
thoughts  ;  againft  thofe  towering  imaginations- 
which  are  but  too  common  in  perfons  of  wealth 
and  power  ;  of  figure  and  diftinftion  in  the  world. 
It  bids  them  remember,  that  how  high  foever  they 
are ;  yea,  tho'  they  exalt  themfehes  as  the  eagle, 
and  huild  their  neji  among  the  fiars  \  yet  there  is 
a  God  above  who  is  able  to  bring  them  down  j  and 
to  abafe  thofe  tliat  walk  in  pride  :  AGod,  in  ivhofe 
hand  their  breath  is,  and  whofe  are  all  their  ways. 

Many  perfons,  when  raifed  to  great  wealth  and 
dignity,  have  been  ready  enough  to  flatter  them- 
felves,  and  have  aftually  been  flattered  by  others, 
that  they  were  not  fubjefb  to  death,  like  the  vul- 
gar fort.  But  alas  !  thefe  immortal  Mortals  are, 
neverthelefs,  long  fince  dead,  and  become  the 
iport  of  voracious  infers  !  This  alfo  will  be  foon 
thy  lot,  O  man  !  whofoevcr  thou  art,  that  now 
exalteft  thyfelf,  and  demefi  the  God  that  is  above, 
ylfter  thy  Jkin,  worms  will  dejlroy  thy  flejh,  living 
and  rioting  on  thee  for  a  while,    and   then  dying 

them- 


(    39    ) 

themfelves.  Yet  there  is  after  this,  another 
worm  i  one  that  dieth  not  ;  and  a  fecond  death, 
far  more  terrible  than  the  Jirji.  Wilt  thou  not 
then,  O  vain  and  thoughtlefs  Mortal,  forfake  thy 
folly,  till  it  is  too  late  to  be  wife  ?  In  feafon  confi- 
der  thy  latter  end, — what  thou  art  coming  to  j  nor 
put  far  away  from  thee  the  evil  day.  For  behold, 
''  AH  flefli  is  grafs,  and  all  the  goodlinefs  thereof 
"  is  as  the  flower  of  the  field  •,  the  grafs  withereth  ; 
"  the  flower  fadeth.  Surely  the  people  is  grafs.  '* 
Neither  wifdom  nor  power  ;  neither  fplendor  nor 
wealth,  will  reverfe  that  fentence — "  Dull  thou 
"  art ;  and  unto  dufl:  flialt  thou  return.  "  To 
ufe  the  words  of  the  prophet,  therefore,  or  rather 
of  God  himfelf  •,  "  Let  not  the  wife  man  glory  in 
"  his  wifdom  ;  neither  let  the  mighty  man  glory 
"  in  his  might  ;  let  not  the  rich  man  glory  in  his 
"  riches  :  But  let  him  that  glorieth,  glory  in  this, 
*'  that  he  underfliandeth  and  knoweth  me,  that  1 
"  am  the  Lord,  which  execute  loving-kindnef?, 
"  judgment  and  righteoufnefs  in  the  earth.  '* 


THE     END. 

Advertifcmcnt. 
CT*//  E  foregoing  difcourfe  was  written  in  an  hajiy 
manner,  without  any  intention  to  publijh  it  : 
And  tho*  fome  alterations  have  fine e  been  made  in  /:• ; 
yet  the  Author  fears  they  are  neither  fo  many  o-- 
great,  as  the  Reader  ivill  think  ivere  neceflary. 

J.  M. 


Wmkr 


.>;* 


4b 


rftfHI 


